October, 2068, 13 years before end of humanity.

Mal dashed into their base, an abandoned security building (like the kind at a toll booth), and slammed the door behind them. Shortly after, scratching could be heard from the outside. Sliding against the wall they checked out their goods from their latest loot run.

the run had been bountiful, with more rations, a first aid kit, skateboard knee pads (which they equipped to protect themselves from Charlie horses (because tony learns from their mistakes) and other knee injuries), a sewing kit, a fishing knife, and most importantly a gun. (Oh no)

yes, a gun, Mal found a gun, a p147 susbak .22 pocket guardian (I made it up cause it is the future, think of a colt 1903 pocket hammerless plus a walther ppq). They had found this gun on the corpse of a dead guy, who decided they weren’t going to deal with this shit, so they shot themself, (I would do the same, much less painful than being mauled by a rabid crack head)

the gun had 14 rounds left in the mag, and none in the chamber, and had found a new home on Mal’s belt. Mal’s hands shook violently and began to hyperventilate as that sat against the wall. The apocalypse was starting to get to Mal’s psyche

They had found their medication a couple months back, and ran out two days ago. Now thanks to poor medicine practice of taking medication at full dose out of the blue, without weening onto it, and the sudden withdrawal from running out of meds, Mal’s mental health got worse (it was already bad enough). they were having a mental breakdown.

——————————————————

after a painful hour, the brunt of the Breakdown had subsided, and now mal only felt like shit (same). ‘Why don’t they think things through?’ They thought, (because the author said so), ‘what were they thinking, taking that medication?’ (They were thinking about how a hotdog isn’t a sandwich because there’s only one bread, but that’s beside the point).

it was stupid, it was stupid, ‘why are they doing this?’

——————————————————

ok, breakdown over, time to go over their plans in their note book.

fact: a gate must be broken, paths were mentioned

fact: they got a message that stated that they started on a path after they got blamed for the settlement dooming themselves.

theory: the path they started upon leads to the gate

theory: doing bad things makes them further the path.

theory: that admin guy is a loser important figure

hypothesis: if they further the path, then they would get another message.

hypothesis: if the admin guy leaves another message, then it could answer questions.

next steps: crime time (guys the thermal drill go get it)

note: don’t get caught.

seemed simple enough for them. ‘Now what is there to cause trouble?’ Mal thought to themself. After drawing a blank, Mal decided to just build preparations, and make a disguise, little did they know that the disguise will become known as the soon to be infamous truthsdale bomber. (Truthsdale is the town name).

Mal plotted out their disguise, they needed a mask to hide their features and hair, something to cover their eyes, gloves, pouches for carrying stuff, some protection, new clothes, and an insignia to make people think they’re part of an organization instead of a solo act, people are a lot less likely to attack a group than a single person. Plus design points.

so the next day they set out to Richard’s sports stuff, and bordermart super store to gather the supplies. After getting everything they needed, plus an additional gain of a flak jacket from a dead survivor.

sewing the insignia onto the outfit, an angry cat patch from a coldfad store, they sat up, it was time.